The Criterion Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June or early July.
The present Criterion Stakes was established in 1978, and for a period it was classed at Listed level. During the eighties the race was known as the Van Geest Stakes. It was promoted to Group 3 status in 1986. From 2025 it will be run at York.
A previous race with the same name was an important event for two-year-olds. Its winners included Ormonde (1885), Flying Fox (1898), Pretty Polly (1903) and Gay Crusader (1916).
Records Most successful horse (2 wins): Libranno – 2011, 2012 Limato - 2019, 2020
Leading jockey (3 wins): Richard Hughes – Trade Fair (2003), Libranno (2012), Producer (2013)
Leading trainer (5 wins): John Gosden – Toussaud (1992), Hill Hopper (1994), Racer Forever (2008), Gregorian (2014), Audience (2023)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Time 1978 Daring March 4 George Duffield James Bethell 1:28.19 1979 Alert 3 Eric Eldin Clive Brittain 1:25.29 1980 Captain Nick 4 Jimmy Bleasdale Jeremy Hindley 1:26.24 1981 Dalsaan 4 Edward Hide Sir Michael Stoute 1:25.23 1982 Noalcoholic 5 George Duffield Gavin Pritchard-Gordon 1:28.11 1983 Thug 3 Brian Taylor Jeremy Hindley 1:26.96 1984 Grey Desire 4 Benjy Coogan Denis Plant 1:23.80 1985 Capricorn Belle 4 Rae Guest Luca Cumani 1:26.36 1986 Mister Wonderful 3 Tony Ives John Dunlop 1:25.51 1987 Linda's Magic 3 Willie Carson Robert Armstrong 1:27.95 1988 Cadeaux Genereux 3 Pat Eddery Olivier Douieb 1:24.19 1989 Zilzal 3 Walter Swinburn Sir Michael Stoute 1:25.95 1990 Rock City 3 Bruce Raymond Richard Hannon Sr. 1:25.61 1991 La Grange Music 4 Walter Swinburn James Fanshawe 1:25.89 1992 Toussaud 3 Pat Eddery John Gosden 1:24.80 1993 Inchinor 3 Richard Quinn Roger Charlton 1:23.56 1994 Hill Hopper 3 Philip Robinson John Gosden 1:26.43 1995 Pipe Major 3 Jason Weaver Patrick Haslam 1:25.00 1996 Gabr 6 Richard Hills Robert Armstrong 1:24.04 1997 Ramooz 4 Willie Ryan Ben Hanbury 1:27.59 1998 Muchea 4 David Harrison Mick Channon 1:25.66 1999 Diktat 4 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor 1:24.63 2000 Arkadian Hero 5 Jamie Spencer Luca Cumani 1:24.14 2001 Shibboleth 4 Richard Quinn Sir Henry Cecil 1:23.66 2002 Atavus 5 Jamie Mackay George Margarson 1:25.17 2003 Trade Fair 3 Richard Hughes Roger Charlton 1:23.84 2004 Arakan 4 Kieren Fallon Sir Michael Stoute 1:25.04 2005 Vortex 6 Micky Fenton Gay Kelleway 1:25.19 2006 Suggestive 8 Nicky Mackay William Haggas 1:24.16 2007 Silver Touch 4 Tadhg O'Shea Mick Channon 1:28.03 2008 Racer Forever 5 Jimmy Fortune John Gosden 1:25.41 2009 Imbongi 5 Kevin Shea Mike de Kock 1:24.83 2010 Premio Loco 6 Jack Mitchell Chris Wall 1:24.74 2011 Libranno 3 Ryan Moore Richard Hannon Sr. 1:23.56 2012 Libranno 4 Richard Hughes Richard Hannon Sr. 1:24.66 2013 Producer 4 Richard Hughes Richard Hannon Sr. 1:23.09 2014 Gregorian 5 William Buick John Gosden 1:26.78 2015 Markaz 3 Dane O'Neill Barry Hills 1:23.37 2016 Breton Rock 6 Martin Harley David Simcock 1:29.90 2017 Home Of The Brave 5 James Doyle Hugo Palmer 1:23.13 2018 Sir Dancealot 4 Gérald Mossé David Elsworth 1:26.12 2019 Limato 7 Harry Bentley Henry Candy 1:24.51 2020 Limato 8 Adam Kirby Henry Candy 1:22.81 2021 Glorious Journey 6 James Doyle Charlie Appleby 1:22.95 2022 Pogo 6 Kieran Shoemark Charles Hills 1:24.88 2023 Audience 4 Robert Havlin John & Thady Gosden 1:22.76 2024 Noble Dynasty 6 William Buick Charlie Appleby 1:23.12 2025 Quinault 5 Jason Hart Stuart Williams 1:23.56 2026 Qirat 5 Silvestre De Sousa Ralph Beckett 1:23.40
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British flat horse races
References
Paris-Turf: , , , , Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
galopp-sieger.de – Criterion Stakes. horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Criterion Stakes (2018). pedigreequery.com – Criterion Stakes – Newmarket.